Turkish, Afghan asylum seekers to appear before European Courts of Human Rights

Alarm Phone, an organization that provides independent support for people crossing the Mediterranean Sea has condemned violence and attacks against people on the move in the Aegean region.

Alarm Phone spoke in the light of an Afghan and a Turkish asylum seekers billed to appear before the European Courts of Human Rights today.

It said: “Two important hearings are taking place at the @ECHR_CEDH in Strasbourg today to shed light on the brutal border regime of Greece at sea and on land. These are important landmark cases in the legal fight against attacks against people on the move.

“In one case, a young Afghan man was pushed back from #Samos & left adrift in Turkish waters, after he had already reached the refugee camp in #Vathy & expressed his intention to seek international protection in #Greece.”

In the other case, Alarm Phone said: “a Turkish national had entered #Greece by crossing the #Evros river in May 2019. She was reportedly arrested, mistreated, stripped of her belongings and then pushed back to #Türkiye.

“In #Türkiye, she was imprisoned due to the accusation of being part of the “Fetullahist Terror Organisation/Parallel State Structure”. These are two of many examples of the systematic pushback regime put into practice by #Greece.”

Despite the lengthy ECHR procedures and limited accountability achieved by international law, it said “these cases mark an important step of using legal means to fight against the violent attacks against people on the move in #Greece and for justice.

“Until today, we witness systematic violence & attacks against people on the move on a daily basis in the #Aegean region and beyond. We stand in solidarity with all those affected by this violent regime and call for Freedom of Movement 4 all!”